Fraud, drug trafficking, human trafficking and other forms of crime increasingly leave digital traces. Detecting and investigating these offences requires law enforcement personnel to have the skills to analyse open-source information, verify data and identify relevant digital evidence.
To strengthen these capacities, the ‘Ștefan cel Mare’ Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs has inaugurated the Digital Analysis and Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) Investigations Laboratory, established with the support of the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP Moldova).
The new laboratory will provide future police officers and serving law enforcement personnel with hands-on training in identifying relevant information sources, verifying the authenticity of images and video footage, analysing publicly available data and documenting investigative findings, whilst ensuring compliance with the law and respect for fundamental rights.
This initiative will contribute to developing a new generation of specialists equipped to use digital tools to prevent and investigate crime, while strengthening OSINT training capacities at national level. An important first step has already been taken, with 13 participants completing the first OSINT training course organised under the project.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs aims to develop the ‘Ștefan cel Mare’ Academy into a centre of excellence for OSINT training in Moldova, ensuring that these specialized skills are increasingly integrated into the daily work of law enforcement and public security institutions.
Investing in professional training and modern analytical tools strengthens the ability of law enforcement agencies to detect crime, anticipate risks and better protect citizens in an increasingly complex digital environment.
